Mardela Springs' property ownership requirement for local office

Stunned to see Confederate-style election practices enforced in modern-day Maryland, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland demanded that officials in the small town of Mardela Springs immediately rescind an unconstitutional property ownership requirement used in the Town's August 1, 2011 election to prevent legally qualified candidates from running for office.

The ACLU letter says the Mardela Charter provision - which it calls "blatantly unconstitutional" - was employed in the August election to prevent legally qualified candidates from running for office. It further asserts that the law has been misinterpreted by residents or officials as disqualifying those who do not own real estate from even voting in Mardela Springs elections.